Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
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February 27, 2020
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JACK IN THE BOX INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-09390
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95-2698708
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission File
Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification
Number)
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9330 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, California
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92123
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Title of each class
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Trading Symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common Stock
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JACK
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The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(NASDAQ Global Select Market)
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Exhibit
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No.
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Description
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JACK IN THE BOX INC.
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By:
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/s/ Lance Tucker
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Lance Tucker
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Executive Vice President
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Chief Financial Officer | |||
(Principal Financial Officer)
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(Duly Authorized Signatory)
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Date: March 4, 2020 |
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Exhibit 10.1
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1.
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General Information
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(a)
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The Jack in the Box Inc. Severance Plan for Executive Officers (the “Plan”) provides eligible employees of Jack in the Box
Inc. (the “Company”) with severance benefits in the event of termination of employment with the Company for the reasons described herein.
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(b)
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The Plan is adopted and effective as of March 9, 2020 (the “Effective Date”).
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2.
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Eligibility
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(a)
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“Eligible Employee” for purposes of this Plan includes:
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(1)
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO”); and
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(2)
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Each regular, full-time employee of the Company who is designated by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) as an
Executive Officer (as that term is defined in Section 5) of the Company.
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(b)
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“Participant” for purposes of this Plan is an Eligible Employee who incurs a Qualifying Termination (as that term is
defined in Section 5).
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(c)
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Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no Participant will be eligible to receive any severance benefit or
payment under the Plan unless, and no severance benefits and payments hereunder shall be payable until, the Participant executes and delivers to the Company a general release of all rights and claims against the Company and its Affiliates
in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (with any such reasonable modifications as are required by the Company to comply with applicable law or circumstance) (the “Release”), within the applicable time period set forth
therein, and such Release has become effective in accordance with its terms, which must occur in no event more than 60 days following the date of the Qualifying Termination (such latest permitted effective date of the Release, the
“Release Deadline”). If a Participant’s Release does not become effective prior to the Release Deadline, such Participant shall not be entitled to any severance benefits or payments hereunder.
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(d)
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A Participant will not be entitled to any severance benefit or payment under the Plan unless and until the Participant
returns all Company Property and satisfies any outstanding indebtedness such Participant has to the Company in full. For this purpose, “Company Property” means all Company paper and electronic documents (and all copies thereof) and other
Company property which the Participant had in his or her possession or control at any time, including, but not limited to, Company files, notes, drawings, records, plans, forecasts, reports, studies, analyses, proposals, agreements,
financial information, research and development information, sales and marketing information, operational and personnel information, specifications, code, software, databases, computer-recorded information, tangible property and equipment
(including, but not limited to, computers, facsimile machines, mobile telephones and servers), credit cards, entry cards, identification badges and keys; and any materials of any kind which contain or embody any proprietary or
confidential information of the Company (and all reproductions thereof in whole or in part).
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(e)
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A Participant’s right to receive severance benefits or payments under this Plan shall terminate immediately if, at any
time prior to or during the period for which the Participant is receiving severance benefits under the Plan, the Participant, without the prior written approval of the Plan Administrator willfully breaches any material statutory, common
law or contractual obligation to the Company or an Affiliate (including, without limitation, the contractual obligations set forth in any confidentiality, non-disclosure and developments agreement, non-competition, non-solicitation, or
similar type agreement between the Participant and the Company, as applicable).
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3.
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Severance Benefits. If an Eligible Employee incurs a Qualifying Termination, upon the effectiveness of the Release, as provided in Section 2(c) above, and
subject to, and to the extent applicable, any potential delay as set forth in Section 4 herein, the Company shall provide severance benefits described in this Section 3, as applicable.
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(a)
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Lump Sum Severance Payment.
The Company shall provide to the Participant a lump sum cash payment equivalent to the multiple of Base Salary listed below, within 90 days of the Participant’s Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than the 409A Deadline. The
“409A Deadline” means the 15th day of the third month of the later of (i) the Participant’s first taxable year following the taxable year in which the Qualifying Termination occurred and (ii) the Company’s first taxable year
following the taxable year in which the Qualifying Termination occurred.
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● CEO |
2.0x Base Salary
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● Executive Officers
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1.0x Base Salary
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(b)
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Annual Incentive Payment. For
Participants who are not eligible to receive an annual incentive payment under the terms of the Company’s Performance Incentive Program applicable for the fiscal year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs (because they are not
retirement eligible as of the date of their Qualifying Termination), the Company shall provide to the Participant a lump sum cash payment in the amount of the annual incentive payment Participant would have received under the Performance
Incentive Program applicable for the fiscal year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, if any, had Participant remained employed with the Company through the end of the fiscal year in which the Qualifying Termination occurred,
prorated for each full four-week accounting period (a “Period”) during such fiscal year in which the Participant was employed with the Company. For clarity, such amount shall be determined in accordance with the Performance Incentive
Program based on Participant’s target award opportunity for the applicable year and fiscal year performance achievement measured against the performance goals under the Performance Incentive Program for such fiscal year, as determined by
the Compensation Committee. The payment under this section, if any, will be made after the end of the fiscal year in which the effective date of the Participant’s Qualifying Termination occurs, but in no event later than the 409A
Deadline.
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● CEO |
24 months
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● Executive Officers
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12 months
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4.
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Section 409A. All payments under the Plan will
be subject to applicable withholding for federal, state, foreign, provincial and local taxes. All benefits provided under the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements for an exemption from application of Section 409A to the maximum
extent that an exemption is available and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly; provided, however, that to the
extent such an exemption is not available, the benefits provided under the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent necessary to avoid adverse personal tax consequences and any ambiguities herein
shall be interpreted accordingly.
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5.
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Definitions.
For purposes of this Plan, the following definitions shall apply:
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(a)
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“Affiliate” shall mean each entity, other than the Company, with whom the Company would be considered a single employer as
provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h)(3).
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(b)
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“Base Salary” with respect to any Eligible Employee, shall mean such Eligible Employee’s annual base salary in effect
immediately prior to such Eligible Employee’s Qualifying Termination.
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(c)
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“Cause” shall be determined by a committee designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Compensation
Committee”), in the exercise of good faith and reasonable judgment, and shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:
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(i)
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a demonstrably willful and deliberate act or failure to act by the Eligible Employee (other than as a
result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is committed in bad faith, without reasonable belief that such action or inaction is in the best interests of the Company, which causes actual material financial injury to the
Company and which act or inaction is not remedied within fifteen (15) business days of written notice from the Company; or
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(ii)
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the Eligible Employee’s conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no
contest” to, an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or any other act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude or causing material harm, financial or otherwise, to the Company; or
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(iii)
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the Eligible Employee’s material breach of a written agreement with the Company or the Eligible
Employee’s material failure to comply with any Company policy, rule or guideline pertaining to workplace conduct, discrimination or harassment.
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(d)
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“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance thereunder.
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(e)
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“Disability” means a physical
or mental condition that results in a total and permanent disability to such extent that an employee satisfies the requirements for Social Security disability benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration.
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(f)
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“Executive Officer” means an employee who is designated by the Company’s Board of Directors as an “officer” (as defined in
Rule 16a-1(f) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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(g)
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“Involuntary Retirement” means an Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service (1) due to termination by Company without
Cause and (2) that occurs at or after the time an Eligible Employee has reached age 55 and 10 years of service with the Company.
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(h)
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“Qualifying Termination” means an Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service due to termination by the Company
without Cause (including an Involuntary Retirement) and other than (1) due to the Eligible Employee’s death or Disability and other than (2) within the 24 months following a Change in Control. For the avoidance of doubt, an Eligible
Employee’s resignation from employment for any reason (including a Voluntary Retirement) shall not constitute a Qualifying Termination.
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(i)
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“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and any state law of similar effect.
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(j)
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“Separation from Service” has the meaning set forth under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) and without regard to
any alternate definition thereunder).
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(k)
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“Voluntary Retirement” means an Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service (1) due to resignation by the Eligible Employee
and (2) that occurs at or after the time an Eligible Employee has reached age 55 and 10 years of service with the Company.
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6.
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Administrative
Information.
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(a)
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Plan Name. The full name of the
Plan is the Jack in the Box Inc. Severance Plan for Executive Officers.
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(b)
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Plan Sponsor. The Plan is
sponsored by Jack in the Box Inc., 9330 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123.
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(c)
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Type of Plan and Funding. The
Plan is a severance plan for the benefit of Executive Officers. The benefits provided under the Plan are paid from the Company’s general assets. No fund has been established for the payment of Plan benefits and no contributions are
required under the Plan.
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(d)
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Administration. The Plan shall
be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or by the Compensation Committee of the Board (as applicable, the “Plan Administrator”). The Plan Administrator is authorized to interpret this Plan, to prescribe and
rescind rules and regulations, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The rules, interpretations, computations and other actions of the Plan Administrator shall be binding and
conclusive on all persons.
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7.
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Contractual Rights and
Legal Remedies.
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(a)
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Contractual Rights to Benefits.
Participation in the Plan does not give any Eligible Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, nor does it guarantee any right to claim any benefit except as outlined in the Plan. The Eligible Employee’s employment
with the Company is terminable at-will by the Company or the Eligible Employee and each shall have the right to terminate the Eligible Employee’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the Company’s
obligation to provide severance benefits as required hereunder.
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(b)
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Arbitration. The Eligible
Employee shall have the right and option to elect (in lieu of litigation) to have any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Plan settled by arbitration conducted before a panel of three (3) arbitrators sitting in
a location selected by the Eligible Employee within fifty (50) miles from the location of his or her job with the Company, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Associations then in effect. The Eligible Employee’s
election to arbitrate, as herein provided, and the decision of the arbitrators in that proceeding, shall be binding on the Company and the Eligible Employee.
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(c)
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Unfunded Plan. The Plan is
intended to be an unfunded general asset promise for Executive Officers and, therefore, is intended to be exempt from the substantive provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
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(d)
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Exclusivity of Benefits. Unless
specifically provided herein, neither the provision of this Plan nor the benefits provided hereunder shall reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish the Eligible Employee’s rights as an employee of the Company, whether
existing now or hereafter, under any compensation and/or benefit plans, programs, policies, or practices provided by the Company, for which the Eligible Employee may qualify, except that the Plan shall supersede any and all prior Company
programs, policies or practices, written or oral, which may have previously applied governing the payment of the severance benefits provided for under Section 4 of this Plan.
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(e)
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Includable Compensation.
Severance benefits provided hereunder shall not be considered “includable compensation” for purposes of determining the Eligible Employee’s benefits under any other plan or program of the Company.
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(f)
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Tax Withholding. The Company
shall withhold from any amounts payable under this Plan any federal, state, city, foreign or other taxes as legally required to be withheld.
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(g)
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Applicable Law. To the extent
not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Delaware shall be the controlling law in all matters relating to this Plan.
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8.
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Plan Amendment or
Termination. The Company reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion to amend or terminate, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan, including an amendment that reduces or eliminates the
benefits hereunder, by action of the Plan Administrator at any time, provided that any amendment or termination of the Plan will not be effective as to a particular Participant without the written consent of such individual unless the
Plan Administrator provides written notice of such amendment or termination to such Participant at least one year prior to its effectiveness.
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(a)
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Severance Payment. The
Company will pay me, as severance, the amount of [$AMOUNT] (less required payroll deductions and any other offsets for money I owe the Company) which represents the lump sum severance payment and COBRA Payment pursuant to Section 3(a) and
3(c) of the Company’s Severance Plan for Executive Officers (“Separation Payment”). This Separation Payment is in addition to wages or other amounts earned as of the Termination date, and I am entitled to those amounts regardless of
whether or not I sign this Agreement.
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(i)
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hand-delivering the Agreement to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, 9330 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 no later than close of
business on [Date]; or
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(ii)
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mailing or sending the Agreement by overnight service such as Federal Express to: Chief Human Resources Officer, 9330
Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92123. If mailed, the envelope must be postmarked no later than [Date] and must be received within a reasonable time thereafter. If overnighted, it must be received no later than [Date].
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(iii)
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faxing the Agreement to the Chief Human Resources Officer at 858-694-1570 no later than [Date]; or
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(iv)
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sending the Agreement via Electronic Mail (email) to the Chief Human Resources Officer at [Name]@jackinthebox.com no later
than [Date].
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1. |
Have carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this Agreement;
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2. |
Am, through this Agreement, releasing the Company from any and all claims I may have against it to date under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29
U.S.C. § 621, et seq.);
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3. |
Knowingly and voluntarily agree to all of the terms set forth in this Agreement;
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4. |
Knowingly and voluntarily intend to be legally bound by the same;
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5. |
Was advised and hereby am advised in writing to consider the terms of this Agreement and consult with an attorney of my choice prior to executing this Agreement;
and,
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6. |
Understand that rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. §621, et seq.) that may arise after the date this Agreement is executed are not waived.
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7. |
[Have been provided with the ADEA disclosure information (under 29 U.S.C. § 626(f)(1)(H)), attached hereto as Exhibit 1.]
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Witness Signature
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[NAME]
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